Reid beat Houdet, the current world number one, 6-2, 6-1 to confirm his status and advance to the last round.

The 25-year-old, winner of the Paralympic men's singles gold and men's doubles silver at Rio 2016, has become the third British tennis player to finish 2016 as world number one.

He follows in the footsteps of fellow Scots Andy Murray, leader of the men’s singles rankings, and Jamie Murray, who is part of the world's best men's doubles team with Brazilian Bruno Soares.

"It feels incredible to be world number one," Reid told BBC Sport.

"It has been the best year of my career and to come here in the last tournament of the year and take the number one spot off Stéphane shows I have earned it.

"Tomorrow's final is bonus territory."

Awaiting Reid in the final is defending champion Joachim Gerard after the Belgian defeated Sweden's Stefan Olsson 7-5, 6-3.

In the women’s singles, The Netherlands’ Jiske Griffioen moved a step closer to retaining her crown with a hard-fought 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 victory over compatriot Diede de Groot.

Standing between the Paralympic champion and a successful defence is Japan’s Yui Kamiji, who registered a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win over Dutchwoman Marjolein Buis.

Tomorrow’s other final is due to see America's eight-time defending champion David Wagner go up against Israel’s Itay Erenlib after both came through their last-four encounters in the quad singles event.

Wagner eased to a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over South Korea’s Kyu-Seung Kim, while Erenlib overcame Britain’s Andy Lapthorne 6-2, 6-4.